1 The two locations were merged thanks to Senera.—Thurvishar
I’m unsure whether it would be better or worse to confess that I didn’t do it on purpose.—Senera
2 Technically speaking, the Name of All Things wasn’t destroyed, simply merged back with its paired dragon, in exactly the same way Grizzst merged Cynosure and Relos Var in order to cure Relos Var’s insanity.—S
3 Which Kihrin absolutely was, at least in terms of birth, if perhaps not personality.—T
Oh, I think he might have qualified in personality too.—S
4 A great many of the scams common to the Lower Circle hinge on some kind of “reward” that the con artist offers to share with the victim in exchange for a small favor or concession, which either is the whole point or which opens up the victim to blackmail later.—T
5 The citizens of Eamithon even have a phrase for this: The hawk hunts the mongoose that hunts the snake.—T
6 Except by birth, as established.—S
True for Kihrin D’Mon, but the situation is more complicated now. By all accounts I’ve been able to discover, S’arric and Rev’arric’s parents were married, while Kihrin’s birth form (we need a better vocabulary for this type of discussion) is no longer being used.—T
That’s a good and annoying point. Stop it.—S
1 Few people have even heard the name Vol Karoth, and fewer still understand that it’s a title, not a name, meaning simply “King of Demons.”—T
Something of a misnomer, since he’s not a demon.—S
2 Nothing. While Jarith was targeted because of his biological relationship with Janel, it might just as easily have been anyone else. Frankly, I’m surprised Xaltorath didn’t turn Janel’s adoptive parents into demons.
3 Just a reminder that Relos Var served as court wizard for Duke Azhen Kaen for a number of years, and Duke Kaen did indeed want to locate Urthaenriel, for many reasons.—T
See: The Ruin of Kings and The Name of All Things for more information.—S
4 As it turns out, he didn’t even have days.—S
1 What she saw in him is a mystery I suspect will never be answered.—S
He could very charming when he felt like it.—T
There’s no proof of that.—S
2 We may need a new definition for this word when the so-called murder victim is still an active living agent.—T
3 I can hardly blame her for missing Arasgon. He didn’t like me back in the day, but I always thought he was a magnificent example of his species.—S
You mean you wanted to give him carrots and a nice rubdown.—T
“Wanted” implies I don’t still feel that way.—S
1 At least you can admit it, I suppose.—S
2 Seriously wish I could have been there. Purely for the historical record, of course.—S
1 Technically a god of war, but most specifically associated with hot tempers and killings committed in anger.—T
He sounds charming.—S
2 That, and may I suggest that being on the roof of a temple also helped?—S
3 Given that the last time they were at the Culling Fields, someone filled the place with toxic Lysian gas, I’m not convinced Taunna’s cooperation should have been assumed.—T
4 It would hardly be the first time.—S
Still embarrassing. Remember, they’re kids.—T
And you’re not?—S
Only by certain definitions.—T
5 As well it should. The “empire” is a myth created by the power-mongers of the so-called Royal Houses. The entire point was nothing so much as an excuse to perpetuate their wealth and power in a wordplay circumvention of the Celestial Concordance.—S
Yes, but how do you really feel about it?—T
6 She speaks for all of us.—S
7 There was some back-and-forth on whether or not the title should be gendered. Evidently, the ultimate answer was yes.—T
Because it would be such a shame if anyone were to accidentally forget Tyentso’s gender.—S
8 As opposed to an acknowledged bastard, or Ogenra.—T
9 What impressed me was that the boy had figured out Sheloran was responsible for making the dragonfly work in the first place. I’ll bet metal to dirt that child develops a witchgift before puberty.—S
10 Said no man, ever, who’s seen her on the battlefield.—S
11 That situation being an attack by a kraken and a dragon at the same time.—T
1 You do realize this implies that she was using Chainbreaker for this illusion, yes? When all signs point to a much more prosaic illusion being responsible.—S
True, but Janel assumed she was using Chainbreaker at this point.—T
2 So killing your mother who’s just tried to murder you after successfully killing your father counts for nothing then? I would’ve thought that an excellent excuse.—S
3 He was rightfully entitled to the Kirpis vané half of the throne.—T
4 Honestly, given that family’s relationship with the Stone of Shackles, I should think they’d be used to these sorts of family tree snarls by this point.—S
Plays hell on the genealogists, though.—T
5 Remind me to send her “let’s be friends” flowers at some point.—S
6 We would have wanted to Return Doc even if we hadn’t needed him for Chainbreaker.—T
Yes, but not quite so urgently.—S
1 Real name: Sharanakal, child of Thaena and Ompher and associated with Worldhearth. Also the universe’s most mobile volcano.—S
2 I suspect that the only reason this tactic proved successful was because Relos Var himself had already erected strong mental barriers in order to keep Vol Karoth out of his own mind. Thus, this was the telepathic equivalent of two people refusing to look at each other.—T
3 Not everything. As there was no shock wave, we will assume he didn’t destroy all air within thirty feet.—T
1 Tyentso and Teraeth were lovers on Ynisthana. It was apparently a purely physical relationship. See: The Ruin of Kings.—T
2 Of the twelve royal families, only eight are god-cursed. The other four are late additions and use magic to change their eye color. Thus a child of Houses D’Kard, D’Moló, D’Jorax, or D’Knofra will be born with perfectly normal eye colors.—T
3 Is he talking about you, Senera?—T
If he is, I’ll never admit it.—S
4 Or at least they’re delightfully free of such things until the assassins get a hold of them.—S
1 For definitions of “long time” that equal just a hair under two months.—S
2 After Jarith had been stripped of much of his memories by Xaltorath, he’d still managed to maintain a “list” of people whom he was not to hurt or allow to be hurt under any circumstances.—T
1 Just as most people don’t realize that Gadrith D’Lorus isn’t my biological father, most people don’t realize that he was Tyentso’s father.—T
I imagine the fact that she married the man is at least in part responsible for that assumption.—S
2 Namely, having to do with the fact that the easiest way to cure a gaesh is to kill the gaeshed victim and fix the spiritual injury in the Afterlife before Returning them. Which is somewhat awkward when the Goddess of Death is still learning how to do her job.—T
1 While taking the form of Alshena D’Mon, Talon had heavily implied that Lyrilyn (Talon’s original life) and Khaeriel had been lovers.—T
2 Whether Khaeriel would return such sentiment, considering that Talon killed Kihrin, is a different matter.—S
3 Surdyeh was Kihrin’s adoptive father, a blind musician who was also apparently a member of the secret cabal known as the Gryphon Men.—T
4 With a little help from pre-dead Kihrin.—S
I helped too.—T
5 Yes, I suspect that’s because it was, in fact, actually a betrayal.—S
Therin appreciated it, though.—T
That’s true. And one could argue that it worked out better for Khaeriel in the end.—S
6 There would have originally been twelve stones, with Lyrilyn creating the need for a thirteenth.—T
7 That would be Aeyan’arric, Lady of Storms, the Ice Dragon.—S
Or as I like to call her, “Auntie Snow Kitten.”—T
You don’t call her that.—S
I might. You can’t prove anything.—T
8 Nine. Seven sons and two daughters.—T
None of which are still alive.—S
9 It’s my personal opinion that he cared a great deal, but sometimes the only way to avoid returning to an addiction is to remove oneself from any exposure to it.—T
1 Not that secret. Clearly, Grizzst knew how to do it.—T
If only Grizzst had been available to walk them through the method.—S
1 I believe that’s now something of an established tradition.—T
As if I wasn’t already glad I never attended that stupid school.—S
1 I can hardly blame them for having other priorities.—S
2 Gerisea must not have thought the sorcerer would die. Otherwise, this was unforgivably sloppy.—S
It still is, in my opinion.—T
1 Can I admit that there’s a part of me that genuinely wants to see what Teraeth would do with the Manol vané throne? Because I do.—S
2 I could have told her how to get past that.—S
3 Azhock, which are considerably larger and more refined than anything being used elsewhere in Quur.—S
4 I am given to understand that it is, in fact, how she learned to read.—T
5 That would be either Arasgon or his brother Telaras.—S
6 This is incorrect. The Joratese do gender their titles. It’s just that they always define their leaders as men—regardless of that person’s biological sex.—S
7 That would be the Joratese, Stavira, and Tolamer banners, respectively, all of which are territories now under the control of Ninavis. Not bad for a woman who started out as an immigrant farm wife turned bandit.—S
8 I should note that although it is customary for many nobles to refer to themselves by the name of their holding, Quur’s dukes do not. Thus Janel Theranon might have once identified herself as Count Tolamer, but Duke Kaen was never addressed as Duke Yor. Similarly, Ninavis Theranon is never Duke Jorat.—T
9 In fact, Ninavis is dressed as a man, or “stallion,” of high rank, in the Joratese fashion.—S
10 Lessoral, of course, being the alias used by Caless. I can’t imagine Tyentso had realized Lessoral was Caless, or she’d have come up with a very different strategy for being rid of the high lords.—T
11 Jaakar is the god of sports and physical prowess.—T
1 This is a fantastic example of the consequences of a lack of formal education. Demons treat tsali exactly like bodies—yet another container to be slipped into or out of at will.—T
Or here’s a thought: while this is Kihrin, this is also a millennia-old S’arric. Possibly he knows something you don’t.—S
1 So they’re saying that even for a mimic, Talon is unpredictable.—S
2 Nephew on his mother’s side. Had his father been inhabiting Terindel’s original body when Teraeth was conceived, Kelanis would also have been his cousin—but since he wasn’t, there’s no paternal biological relationship.—T
3 Idorrá is a Joratese concept of dominance and protection that roughly summarizes Joratese beliefs about the ideal qualities of a ruler, and also of a man.—T
Which the Joratese view as synonyms. Rulers are always men, even if, technically speaking, they aren’t male at all.—S
4 Prior to joining the vané, Valathea’s voras name was Athea’val or A’val. Evidently, a great many vané took up the practice of shifting around their given and family names to indicate their new allegiance, and thus Athea’val became Valathea.—T
1 I take exception to that.—T
In every sense of the word, I imagine, as you’re not really a D’Lorus.—S
1 No.—T
1 Unfortunately, this was an incorrect assumption.—T
2 This would only be possible if Teraeth decided to follow in the footsteps of his voramer maternal line, who are born male and become female as they age. He’s shown no inclination toward this. By which I mean he’s flatly refused to even consider it. Maybe Khaeriel shouldn’t have assumed.—S
3 Wait. Janel never read your book?—S
When would she have had time?—T
4 Talon had everything to do with it.—T
1 I believe that would be from when Gorokai decided to leave Rainbow Lake and attack the Temple of Light in order to steal Skyfire.—S
2 If the Name of All Things can’t “see” before its own creation, how was it able to show you what Relos Var really looked like?—T
Because when Grizzst merged Relos Var and Cynosure, the human shape he assumed was his birth form. And that took place after the Cornerstones were created.—S
3 That is sadly accurate. At least I have the consolation that Relos Var never once attempted to exploit our relationship in that particular regard.—S
Oh no. He exploited your relationship as much as possible, in unhealthy, unethical ways. He just didn’t try to have sex with you.—T
4 No, surely not. Kihrin would never do that.—S
Unless he had a good reason. For example, because reality exists.—T
1 It’s true. Mimics do lie a lot.—S
1 Under the assumption that any later translations of this text that may occur will presumably not translate common names into their prosaic meanings, I shall point out that tave is the Guarem word for “baby.”—T
2 Oh, I don’t think that’s true at all. Gadrith would kill a child the way one might swat at a mosquito. It wouldn’t even occur to him not to. Relos Var wouldn’t hurt a child without a reason.—T
He’d still kill the child if he had a reason, though.—S
Oh, without question.—T
3 It was really a “damned if we do, damned if we don’t” situation.—S
1 Technically, waters inside the Blight are usually alkaline, not acidic, but still undrinkable.—T
2 I find it curious that the “Green Lands”—which seems to be an important promised land in morgage culture—translates in Guarem as “Marakor.”—T
3 I’m honestly impressed that Tyentso remembered that this is what the morgage call Vol Karoth.—S
1 Gaeshing can be done anywhere, of course, but the ritual is complicated and takes hours. As Relos Var seemed to be on something of a schedule, it’s understandable that he would have wanted to perform said ritual at a location where that time wouldn’t hinder his plans.—S
2 Well, he is something like fourteen thousand years old. Unfortunately, we may not have paid enough attention to the fact that he’s just very, very good at reading people.—S
3 I would argue the Lighthouse claims first place here. Everyone used that location for their schemes at one point or another, including us.—T
4 It’s in northern Kirpis.—S
5 In hindsight, we really should have made copies of all the books and research notes to give him something to find.—S
Yes, but there was no time. Even Shadrag Gor has its limits.—T
1 Gender pronouns are a bit tricky for a demon like Xaltorath, who sometimes appears male and sometimes female. Janel typically refers to the demon as “she,” but it’s clear that there are times when Xaltorath refers to themselves as a “he”—so we’ve chosen to use the pronouns matching the form Xaltorath is holding at the time, and “they” for those instances when gender preference is unclear.—T & S
1 I’m sure it’s no coincidence that such a description greatly resembles the original Taja, who was Gorokai’s daughter.—T
2 I believe that’s exactly what happened.—T
1 The “shadow” of Taja who mentored Talea through using her powers called herself Eshi, a nickname derived from the original Taja’s full name, Eshimavari.—T
2 Yes, the one Xivan has a “synergy” with.—S
I wasn’t going to say anything.—T
3 The original Thaena was famous for being able to see into one’s soul—quite possibly literally—in a manner that most people found overwhelming. Even Relos Var wasn’t immune.—T
4 She’s the daughter of Thaena and Galava.—T
1 I suppose that explains why the Vishai were so willing to claim it as theirs. Sounds perfect for them.—S
1 Darzin.—T
2 Relos Var.—S
3 I don’t know, Kihrin. How have you felt about family members trying to kill you? It’s not like you don’t have a track record here.—S
4 We are assuming that Xaltorath started doing this after they lost track of Janel, Xivan, and Talea.—T
5 It came to that.—T
1 That never happened, but I suppose it’s to be expected that much of that relationship has been mythologized.—T
2 Which is true. With the exception of her parents, Cherthog and Suless, almost all of the first god-kings were either lovers or friends of Caless’s. Once the secret was out, those first god-kings rarely shared their knowledge with others, but it still happened often enough to create hundreds of them.—T
3 Ah, wonderful. That’s a mental image I’m never going to be able to scrub free from my mind.—S
On the other hand, this is her area of expertise. It’s possible she’s even right.—T
You’re not helping.—S
4 Su’less, in the original voras style, but I have sadly been unable to discover what her personal name was.—T
It’s probable that there’s no longer anyone alive who knows, including her daughter.—S
1 The key phrase being “almost positive.” In theory, it is possible that some sort of link with Grimward may have been formed, which doesn’t seem to be the case. Although I am unsure how one might recognize such a link or what effect it might have had.—T
2 Xaloma is full voramer, or was before she became a dragon.—T
1 No, I imagine not. I do love it when Relos Var messes up.—S
2 Looking back, it seems likely that he would have known from the moment Drehemia was cured. This was just him filling in a few details.—S
3 I wonder why that would be? Could it have anything to do with the fact that he’s known how to fix his fellow dragons for millennia and has decided he’d rather have them insane?—S
Insane left him with a controllable dragon and a usable Cornerstone.—T
1 If Kihrin’s correct, Xaloma wouldn’t be able to permanently destroy a soul, but that doesn’t mean it would be pleasant.—T
1 Given that all the voramer-descended races are amphibious and can breathe air, this wouldn’t prevent any of those groups from reincarnating. That said, one does wonder about the fish.—T
That is possibly the single best argument I’ve heard yet for the idea that animals don’t reincarnate.—S
Yes, but what about the Daughters of Laaka? Or the sky trees? I have questions.—T
1 King Terindel obtained the Stone of Shackles because of the wizard Grizzst, who gave him the Cornerstone in exchange for Valathea’s help resurrecting Galava. Grizzst had truthfully told him that the artifact would save his life.—T
Terindel should have asked how.—S
2 I’m honestly not sure whether to be proud or insulted that I was apparently the one volunteer for all this whose participation was taken for granted.—T
3 This is embarrassingly bad logic. If one assumes that the Font of Souls will only “create” a new soul when strictly necessary, then it would only do so if the living population exceeds the number of souls readily available. If Kihrin was correct, and just one of those demon princes was an amalgam of billions of souls, then it seems unlikely that the Font would have ever needed to create new souls, even if it was capable of doing so.—T
4 That’s Taunna Milligreest, a distant cousin of Jarith, Janel, and Eledore, who is Doc’s adopted daughter.—T
1 I wonder if this describes a literal or figurative relationship. Are all mimics related to each other?—T
2 I think we may not have been giving Qown full credit for his acting skills. This would have made me doubt his guilt, and I knew for a fact that Qown had changed sides.—S
1 From which we can deduce that Drehemia’s ability to pass undetected and invisible requires intention.—S
1 Ynis being the self-proclaimed God-King of Death, who also created the thriss (the snake men who live down near the Manol), and Khorsal being the God-King of Horses, whom the Joratese ultimately rebelled against and helped Atrin Kandor slay.—T
1 Given Fayrin’s earlier conversation with Tyentso, it seems likely that this was less about an assignation with courtesans than checking in with his spies.—T
Oh, it’s adorable how you’re assuming it can’t be both.—S
2 Or at least, pretending to be.—S
3 I hadn’t thought that he’d caught that good of a look at me, but in hindsight there was no reason to suspect he didn’t have spectacularly good night vision. I suppose we should be glad that Jarith did such a good impression of Thurvishar and that Galen and Sheloran were present.—S
4 This wasn’t bragging, was it? You really could do this while drunk.—S
It wouldn’t be the first time.—T
1 Of course it was a bawdy drinking song. This is Grizzst we’re talking about. However, I will not be listing which drinking song here for security reasons.—T
2 I’d be surprised if arrows—even vané arrows—had any effect on Rebel.—S
3 Yes, I should have said it in vorem. I wasn’t thinking clearly.—T
1 Only because she was supposed to be in Khorvesh at the front. Otherwise this is exactly where I’d expect her to be.—T
And even then, the emperor is rather famous for that whole ‘teleport anywhere in the empire’ power.—S
2 I assume she means Relos Var.—T
She wouldn’t be wrong. We were checking on her.—S
1 I was about to protest that Terindel’s soul gem shouldn’t have been a star tear since he wasn’t a Founder, but then I remembered that he was born before the demons arrived. That means his soul had to have been reincarnated from one of the original settlers.—S
1 Tyentso’s birth name was Raverí. Presumably, Qoran had told his wife about the real identity of Quur’s newest emperor.—T
2 He was probably wondering why one of them looked so familiar.—T
3 A common Joratese expression.—S
4 That’s only because Tyentso was already dead (if only temporarily) when Gadrith had his breakdown after Kihrin claimed Urthaenriel. That was the most emotional I’d ever seen him.—T
The Ruin of Kings, chapter 87. Cite your sources, dear.—S
5 I think Relos Var liked to believe it was his weakness. It’s a very romantic idea, that one will rain a fiery death on anyone who messes with family. But if their safety interfered with his goals? He never hesitated.—T
He never saw us as people. That was the problem. We were, all of us, nothing more than tools. And while you obviously kill anyone who tries to steal your tools, that doesn’t mean you won’t break them yourself to finish the job.—S
1 I will simply comment that given our location and Xivan’s presence, there was really no chance that I was irrecoverable.—S
Logically, we knew that. Emotionally? A different story.—T
2 That’s basically accurate.—T
1 Had the Law of Daynos still been in effect, Terindel would have given up his crown when Thaena slew him and wouldn’t have regained it just because he was resurrected.—T
Pretty sure that would have been the shortest reign in vané history. Quite possibly the shortest reign in anyone’s history.—S
No, there was a Zheriasian king, Sargo, who was assassinated as he was being crowned. He still holds the record.—T
2 She’s quoting what Xaltorath said to Elana Milligreest before the demon unlocked her memories in the Korthaen Blight.—T
Note that Elana Kandor was Janel’s most immediate previous incarnation.—S
3 Just the brain, really. Talon didn’t have time to eat more than that.—S
1 Which we know is possible. See: Relos Var vs. the Lash.—S
2 Presumably, she’s referring to the ghost of Phaellin D’Erinwa, whom Gadrith murdered when they were both students.—T
3 Technically, Tyentso herself stopped being a member of House D’Lorus when she became empress.—T
4 Tyentso’s mother, Rava, was executed in Alavel for being a witch, which was carried out by burning. I’ve looked over the evidence, and it’s my opinion that Rava didn’t know any magic but confessed to pull suspicion away from her daughter, who did. What is less open for speculation is that the man who sentenced her to death, Lamrin Shan, later adopted Tyentso to the bewilderment of all his peers, thus leaving her his entire fortune when he and his wife died horrifically in a demon-summoning accident.—T
Oh, I do appreciate a well-orchestrated revenge.—S
1 Just the two.—T
As far as we know.—S
2 Wait. What was that?—T
What?—S
You just … is that really what you were thinking?—T
I couldn’t possibly know what you’re talking about.—S
3 It seems to largely operate under the premise that successful demon summoning requires one to be pure of mind and body. Which is nonsense. Personally, I lean toward the “joke” possibility.—T
1 Jarith had yet to report back both that he’d found Tyentso and that all the events at the D’Lorus estate had happened.—S
1 I believe Jarith reminded Kalindra here that she herself had put her son, Nikali, in danger on Devors.—T
Nobody likes having their hypocrisy pointed out to them.—S
2 There’s no reason she would have known about Janel.—S
3 Shouldn’t that be “cross that bridge when she comes to it”?—S
No, she said what she meant to say.—T
4 Legally, Raverí D’Lorus, a.k.a. Tyentso, is still listed as my mother. I really need to get that fixed.—T
5 If she had taken two seconds to contact me with the ring, she would have.—T
This is where that lack of sleep comes in.—S
6 Unlike the earlier group, everyone in this party spoke Vorem. Except for the demon, who’s a telepath.—S
7 Just a reminder that we were keeping Doc’s return a secret at this point, which is why it was still Teraeth wearing the crown.—T
8 Excuse me. He very much did not. He just created the artifacts.—T
Do you really want to claim credit for the founding of Quur?—S
When you put it that way, no. No, I do not.—T
1 It’s worth mentioning that Khored isn’t associated with destruction in Jorat but rather competition. And given that the Joratese use competition to decide idorrá/thudajé relationships, that arguably makes him the more important deity in their society.—T
It also makes the fact that he participates in these contests himself downright hilarious.—S
2 That would be Janel.—S
1 Yes, because it apparently was?—S
1 To my knowledge, this is not a normal feature of dreth physiology. I’ve been unable to find any mention in historical records of dreth with white eyes where the full dreth wasn’t also a pale color.—T
2 Ompher’s real name is Hanik Mir.—S
1 In point of fact, it exploded with enough force to be felt in the Free States of Doltar on the southern continent.—T
2 Depending on exactly how Ompher accomplished that attack, he may not have had any choice in the matter.—T
3 At least he qualified that.—S
1 Rol’amar is the only son of Tya (Ir’amar, also known as Irisia) and Relos Var (Rev’arric). Which makes him S’arric’s nephew and my uncle.—T
I think you might be missing the more important fact: that Kihrin destroyed Rol’amar while channeling Vol Karoth’s power. We had thought it possible Rol’amar wouldn’t be able to come back from that, and we were wrong.—S
2 But please note that we did check, anyway, before we left the Lighthouse for what turned out to be the last time.—S
1 I’m not sure he would have said this if he saw how easily Anlyr dealt with you back in the Capital.—S
Yes, it is truly strange beyond measure that I, a twenty-five-year-old man, might possibly have any difficulty in a one-on-one melee against a fourteen-thousand-plus-year-old mimic. Astonishing.—T
What about in your last life, when you were Emperor Simillion?—S
Ah yes. That would be the time I was murdered when I was twenty.—T
1 That’s a reference to what Xaltorath said upon assaulting Kihrin in the Capital City of Quur when he was fifteen.—T
1 If Teraeth thinks he inherited his temper from his father’s side of the family, I would invite him to take a closer look at his mother.—S
1 I suppose that was one unexpected benefit to what Ompher did.—T
2 Karolaen was Kharas Gulgoth’s original name.—T
3 Apparently “shooting star” is a misnomer, and depending on composition, such objects are more generally called either comets (ice) or asteroids (rock). I would’ve assumed Ompher would use rock by preference, but evidently not.—T
I asked, and was told that comets often move at faster speeds, and thus are capable of causing more devastation on impact, assuming they don’t burn up before reaching the surface. Or, to put it a different way, Ompher was being a dick.—S
4 What do you want to bet that two of those bright lights he’d just dismissed were Xivan and Talea?—S
1 Xivan and Talea didn’t need to be gaeshed because they’d already gone through this.—S
1 And given what we’ve learned from the Lash, this is almost certainly related to the existence of other dragons out there in the universe.—T
2 This directly contradicts previous claims that there were no children born after the settlers arrived.—S
It’s become evident that when they say “no” children, what they mean is “no children except for special exceptions.” Also, it’s possible the settlers brought babies with them.—T
3 She wouldn’t have ever encountered the concept of a “gaesh”—T
Drehemia was already a dragon by the time Cherthog discovered he could use the Stone of Shackles to chain souls.—S
1 That was Xaltorath.—S
2 Actually, that was also Xaltorath. Tyentso was just the person who’d performed the summoning.—T
1 I have to say that although the Manol Jungle was unpleasantly, unreasonably warm, the food was amazing.—S
1 And it let some of us see in the dark. It’s a handy spell.—T
2 Given that Havar D’Aramarin is also the god-king Nemesan, I’m sure the feeling is entirely mutual.—S
3 On several occasions previous, it’s been noticed that dragons seem to be drawn to their non-draconic family members. It’s an observation we’ve never had a chance to properly investigate.—T
1 Given that Sheloran comes from two generations of god-kings and has no fewer than four god-kings in her immediate family (unprecedented as far as I know) I would agree with her assessment. One does not “inherit” immortality, but there is such a thing as the privilege of access.—S
2 I know. That’s why I picked it.—T
3 This is an excellent example of the power of literally not knowing your limits. I doubt Mithros would have ever tried something so foolhardy.—T
1 A little known property of the Cornerstone allowed its bearer to understand languages.—S
Did you just footnote your own thought-comment?—T
As if you’re one to talk.—S
2 I suppose this lends credence to Kihrin’s belief that the dragon would be vulnerable to healing.—T
1 Morios is exceedingly difficult to kill, but he’s not immune to environmental damage nor to his own power. Thus using Morios’s own metal against him worked.—T
1 This is in essence what Ompher did in the Korthaen Blight too. It’s just that his ball of ice was much larger and dropped from much farther up.—T
1 This was a popular tactic, apparently.—T
2 Must have been Irisia. I was up to my eyeballs in animated dead.—S
3 They don’t? Gods, either of the Immortal or god-king variety, very much do not do this all the time.—S
Yes, luckily, nobody told him.—T
4 The “angel contingency” would only activate if Relos Var’s ritual succeeded in stripping away everyone’s Immortal status.—S
1 I feel like I’ve missed out by not learning Kihrin’s invisibility spell.—T
You have. It’s one of the best versions of that spell I’ve ever encountered.—S
1 Looking back, Relos Var probably didn’t steal the idea from me, but part of me will always wonder.—S
You could always ask.—T
Yes, I could. I don’t think I will.—S
1 This isn’t as dangerous as it may seem. Most teleport spells won’t allow the recipient to appear in an occupied space, although they might do themselves harm for a host of other reasons.—T
2 He didn’t.—S
3 For example, the Ritual of Night, which required such intense tenyé reserves that it traditionally killed its caster and everyone assisting.—T
4 Relos Var deliberately kept C’indrol away when he performed the ritual that turned S’arric into Vol Karoth and created the dragons. C’indrol died in the explosion after.—T
1 Both the quatrains he quoted are real. And almost guaranteed to have nothing to do with the actual events here.—T
1 While it’s impossible to say if Urthaenriel lost its power at this moment, it seems likely that it lost that portion of S’arric’s soul that had been lodged within it and might have (under other circumstances) allowed Relos Var to use the sword to control Vol Karoth.—T
1 Oh, I think Janel’s familiarity puts the Black Brotherhood to shame.—S
2 We’d originally meant to fake her death using Chainbreaker, but when Xivan revealed that she could make angels, Valathea decided against using an illusion for that purpose. The risk was too great.—T
1 I suppose this does answer a question of mine—namely, why extremely jaded vané nobles never used the Stone of Shackles to switch out bodies like they were fashion accessories.—S
1 This is technically true, but since I am also “technically” married to Relos Var, I will vigorously argue that it doesn’t count. They’re just going to have to do this for real.—S
2 Back with Tyentso, thanks to Fayrin Jhelora. She kept it with the Quuros army until they could be pulled back to the Capital, at which point, she began the rather unpleasant task of attempting to wean both the army and an entire city of its effects. We have since hidden the stone in an unpopulated area. No, I will not say where.—T
3 We let Kihrin know about Xivan’s death later.—S
4 Yes, she adopted Tyrin. All of us, but I suspected most especially Jira Milligreest, were shocked.—T
Translation: she’s given the boy her family name, and very likely the Milligreests will do most of the actual “raising.”—S
I imagine so, yes. But on the other hand, that’s already a thousand percent better parenting than anything Gadrith did.—T